Caught in the depths of a warzone, their main duty was to serve in the military as Marines. Nonetheless, Dan and Tim found solace in music. In fact, they used the art form to distract fellow Marines from the everyday tasks of missions and firefights.
From playing acoustic guitars in Fallujah, Iraq to busting out hardcore rock anthems in Salt Lake City, Dan and Tim still write music. Instead of playing in smoke pits, the brothers, alongside two other artists, now perform in front of big crowds under the persona American Hitmen. The name acts as a double entendre, standing for the members’ time in the military and for the idea that they are American men who write hit music.
Last Wednesday, American Hitmen took stage at The Depot. At the show, the band worked hard to prove its place as opening act for local and popular ensemble Royal Bliss. Lead singer and lyricist Dan believes they were able to connect with the Royal Bliss fan following by writing identifiable music.
While many of American Hitmen’s tunes are based on combat experiences, the band tries to work in storylines that any listener can pick up on. For instance, the song “Devil’s Country” depicts war as a drug. Most people understand the aftermath of addiction, but not the heartbreak of war.
“You get home from war and you’re like, ‘nothing makes sense. I just want to go back.’ It’s hard for people who have never been there to understand that,” Dan said.
Wanting to connect to listeners, Dan compared war to a woman, the kind of woman who is trouble but draws men back time and again.
“It’s very vague, but we let people interpret what they want,” Dan said. “Sometimes when you tell people what the song is about, it kind of ruins the illusion.”
To Dan, the American Hitmen track resonates on different levels for different people. To the band, “Devil’s Country” forms images of war, but to others, the song represents the calamity of an unhealthy relationship. Either way, it nurtures an individual experience.
From vague interpretations to obvious narratives of war, American Hitmen uses lyrics to mix up its style. When the stories are blunt, listeners feel sympathy for the band and understand music is therapeutic for them.
“Music for us is very cathartic. We write a lot about our experiences at combat,” Dan said. “Sometimes I’ll be really blunt.
We have a song called ‘Born Again,’ where we talk about being in firefights, people dying and killing people.”
While American Hitmen’s lyrics have potential to connect to any audience, the music is a different story. The band has a heavy and aggressive sound, which matches the combat and warzone vibe. Because of that, it may be difficult for those with softer ears to hear the group’s message.
However, acoustic performances of American Hitmen music are the alternative choice for those who shy from listening to Avenged Sevenfold or wearing Affliction T-shirts.